CPSC Approves ASTM Standard for Portable Bed Rails
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has voted (4-0) to adopt a new federal standard on portable bed rails for children. A portable bed rail is used on the side of an adult bed to keep children, typically age 2 to 5 years old, from falling out of the bed. The mandatory standard incorporates the ASTM F2085-12 bed rail standard and addresses consumer assembly and installation problems that have resulted in child deaths. The new standard will go into effect six months after publication of the final rule in the Federal Register.
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New Standard Include Labeling and Testing Requirements, Etc.
According to CPSC, the new mandatory standard includes the following requirements for portable bed rails: (i) they must not create a dangerous gap with the mattress into which a child can fall; (ii) must be tested to make sure the bed rail hardware is permanently attached and that components cannot be assembled in an unsafe manner; (iii) must have improved warnings on labels and instructions; (iv) installation components, such as anchor or straps, must be permanently attached to the bed rail and must have a warning label on them; and (v) must not have hazardous sharp edges, points, or small parts. CPSC states that the improved warnings explicitly state that bed rails should never be used with children younger than two years old, but are intended for children age 2 to 5 who can get out of an adult bed without help.
(In addition to portable bed rails, CPSC has approved mandatory standards for other children’s products, including cribs, bath seats, baby walkers and toddler beds, as required by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008.)